Connection 2: Medium-Sized Groups (Part 2 of 7)
Successful medium-sized groups are easy to spot. They are
usually organized into basic categories of people (men, women,
college, high school, kids, etc.) These groups involve in-depth
teaching combined with fellowship. There will often be
opportunities for interaction between people who attend the
meetings actually during the meeting. In addition, the relaxed
atmosphere is likely to provide interaction outside of a small
geographic area around the attendee's chair or table. This
happens as people sit in different locations each time and
promotes multiple contacts (and thus, connections) within the
group.
Successful connections are made in the medium-sized group
through the people who attend as well as the people who organize
the events. This connection is reinforced by continual
attendance and through the "mixing up" of seating at the
location. The advantage of this type of connection is that
feedback can be readily received and results can be quantified.
Temporary Groups
Some medium-sized groups are temporary. Large churches may form
medium-sized groups to help connect a group of people and to
help them form connections and bonds. Other successful
medium-sized groups could be a "spiritual gifts" course or a
"membership" course, or perhaps a mission trip where people will
be temporarily held together because of certain given conditions.
Permanent Groups
Other medium-sized groups are permanent. youth, junior high,
high school, college, singles, seniors, moms, and dads name just
a few. These groups will have fluid members, but the groups
themselves are permanent and reliable (such as Men's Ministry
meets Wednesday morning, High School meets Wednesday night, and
so forth).